Neymar suffered a heartbreaking injury just 34 minutes into his milestone 100th appearance for Santos in the Brazilian Serie A Championship. The 33-year-old forward had to leave the pitch in tears after hurting his leg during the match.
Wearing a special number 100 shirt to commemorate the occasion at Vila Belmiro stadium, Neymar’s celebration was short-lived as he signaled to the bench that he could no longer continue. He was visibly emotional as he was taken off the field on a buggy.
Despite Neymar’s early exit, Santos emerged victorious with a 2-0 win against Atletico-MG. This match marked Neymar’s first start in the Brazilian domestic league this season, following his return to the squad from a thigh injury.
There are concerns that Neymar may have suffered a repeat injury, as he was seen clutching the same thigh during his exit from the game.
Manager Cesar Sampaio expressed uncertainty about the extent of Neymar’s injury, stating, “It’s still too early to give any definitive answer, we don’t have a diagnosis yet. Now we really have to pray that it’s not something that will keep him out for a long time.”
Since his return to Santos from Al-Hilal, Neymar has made eight appearances and scored three goals. He has not played for the national team since October 2023 due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Although Neymar was initially named in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers, he had to withdraw due to injury.
Currently, Santos is positioned 12th in the league after four matches, with one win, one draw, and two losses.